The Impact of Simulated Weightlessness on Endothelium-Dependent Angiogenesis and the Role of Caveolae/Caveolin-1.

Background/aims: The potential role of caveolin-1 in modulating angiogenesis in microgravity environment is unexplored.

Methods: Using simulated microgravity by clinostat, we measured the expressions and interactions of caveolin-1 and eNOS in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Results: We found that decreased caveolin-1 expression is associated with increased expression and phosphorylation levels of eNOS in endothelial cells stimulated by microgravity, which causes a dissociation of eNOS from caveolin-1 complexes. As a result, microgravity induces cell migration and tube formation in endothelial cell in vitro that depends on the regulations of caveolin-1.

Conclusion: Our study provides insight for the important endothelial functions in altered gravitational environments.